03/08/06 Japan beef ban 2006

Japan Beef Ban 2006 Sometimes you never get a chance to enjoy a good thing. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to tell you about just such a time. The good thing that happened to American cattle and beef producers the second week of December 2005 only lasted until January 20, 2006 and then it was gone again. Of course, I'm talking about the resumption of U.S. beef exports to Japan after the 2003 ban imposed by Japan when U.S. confirmed a case of BSE found in an imported cow. American beef producer's bruises caused by pinching themselves had barely started to heal when news of another Japanese beef ban returned them to the nightmare of international trade reality. The reality was that a Japanese customer had ordered a specific beef cut not approved under the new Japanese import rules and a U.S. exporter supplied the product. Two mistakes were made - the order being placed and then order being sent. I just read an AP article that stated a 475-page report was just issued to explain those two simple facts. I'm sure in the protocol of international trade an apology and a statement that companies from both countries messed up and we have a handle on it wouldn't be at all acceptable. My biggest hope is that when the Japanese ban on U.S. beef is lifted again, U.S. exporters will read, reread and read again Japan's beef import rules. That one billion dollar plus market is too valuable to take lightly. I'm Jeff Keane.